'Tickle Me Symphony' gets you laughing

March 26, 2008 12:24:08 PM PDT

THE WOODLANDS, TX --

Explore the funny side of music with Tickle Me Symphony at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion's first performance of its 19th Performing Arts Season. Tickle Me Symphony features the world-renowned Houston Symphony under the direction of Brett Mitchell April 10, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. Mitchell makes his Pavilion debut with this performance.

Tickle Me Symphony is a concert of music that shows how composers like to have a little fun. Mitchell will have you snickering with delight with Glinka's Overture to "Ruslan and Ludmila" and Mozart's Ein musikalischer Spass (A Musical Joke). Other pieces to tickle your funny bone include excerpts from Offenbach's Can-Can from "Orpheus in the Underworld," Ponchielli's Dance of the Hours from "La Gioconda," Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Nights Dream," Kabalevsky's Suite from "The Comedians" and more.

Be prepared to be amused by Tickle Me Symphony! Pre-concert activities begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Hats Off to Reading Celebration in The Pavilion's Event Tent. Other pre-concert activities begin at 6:30 p.m.

Come Early to Celebrate Reading! Prior to the Houston Symphony's performance, the annual Hats Off to Reading celebration, an event that promotes student literacy and a love of reading, takes place in The Pavilion's Event Tent from 5:30 ? 6:45 p.m. This event, sponsored by the Reading Odyssey Committee, a coalition of CISD librarians, the Montgomery County Memorial Library System, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School Library, Scholastic Book Fairs, Chick-fil-A and The Pavilion, is free and open to the public. As a reward for their reading achievements during the school year, students can take home a free book (while supplies last) and participate in fun and educational activities, including face painting, hat making, a book walk, bookmark crafts and special appearance by Puffy Pine Cone and the Chick-fil-A Cow. So come early and celebrate reading and the arts!

Bring the whole family to Tickle Me Symphony and have a picnic on the hill during the concert. Lawn seating is free, courtesy of Woodforest National Bank. Free lawn chairs also are available for this and other applicable performing arts events this season. Picnics are welcome. Keep in mind that beverages cannot be brought into The Pavilion.

Reserved seating tickets to this Houston Symphony concert are $15 for covered reserved, $10 for uncovered reserved. Tickets can be purchased at The Pavilion Ticket Office and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets are not required to sit on the lawn.

Performing Arts subscriptions for the 2008 season are now available for $150 per seat. Subscriptions include covered reserved seats to all Houston Symphony concerts (including preferred seating for the Star-Spangled Salute and Texas Music Festival Orchestra performances), VIP on-site parking and Woodforest Bank VIP Club access for each show, as well as a subscription to The Pavilion's CenterStage newsletter. Subscribe before May 21 and receive bonus tickets to the performing arts concert of your choice and bonus tickets to the 14th Annual Children's Festival! Individual tickets for all performing arts events also are now available.

Tickets and subscription packages can be purchased at The Pavilion Ticket Office, located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands. The Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and on event days through the start of the show. Individual tickets also are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, including Macy's, Fiesta, select FYE and H-E-B locations, Wherehouse Music and Media Magic, by calling 713-629-3700, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Most major credit cards are accepted. Some service charges may apply.

Preferred parking is available in the on-site Town Center Garage, located along Six Pines Drive. Parking is $5 per vehicle for this and most performing arts events. Tickets for on-site parking can be purchased in advance at all Ticketmaster locations and The Pavilion Ticket Office. Guests also can park in any of the five free parking lots on the southwest side of The Pavilion. The free, color-coded lots are connected to The Pavilion by corresponding pathways with signs leading across The Waterway.

For more information regarding upcoming events at The Pavilion, call 281-363-3300 or visit www.woodlandscenter.org.